The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1887-12-08
OUR SCHOOLS.


KiehIe, relative to the public schools
in Stearns county, after a cursory
examination made by Prof. Roche
leau, at the request of the superinten-
tendent. 1t is gratifying to learn that
the schools are in such satisfactory
condition, but it is quite possible the
recent controversy at Melrose has an
influence in abating the evils CON-
planned of. The Melrose friends OF
the schools there take serious excep.
tons at the implied criticism of their
conduct, and resent it in 4 set of very
torcible resolutions printed in the
Melrose column. 1t may be written
down as solid fact that the public
schools of Stearns county will in the
future be watched with jealous eye
be the friends of the system. The
following is the letter:
Public attention has from time to time
been called TO the schools Of Stearns county,
in complaints made to the department of
public instruction, and more recently by
public discussions and sworn statements
concerning the manner In which the schools
ore conducted in disregard OF the interests
OF the children and Otter In violation flaw
All interests have seemed to require some
inquiry into the condition of the schools In
this county and'the manner OF their admin
istration. I have therefore, instructed State
Institute Conductor, w. e. Rocheleau, at the
close of the institute held by him at st. Cloud
10 make special and unanuouced visitation
OF the representative schools of this county,
especially OF those against whom complaint
has been made. to Inspect them with care
and to report the facts.
This has been done by him, and In the fol-
lowing summary give such facts and con-
illusions as are based upon the report of Mr..
Rocheleau, the statistical report of the
county superintendent and my own acquain-
lance with the affaira of the county.
The county contains Al districts, with a
population Of $4,000. of which about five per
cent. are German. Many of the country dis.
tricts are exclusively German and Catholic
The language of the home is German, of
course, and the first appearance of English Is
the intl odu .tion Of English words in colo
quail German. making q language neither
English nor good German.
AS to the schools nothing reported by Mr.
Rocheleau, nor learned by myself, gives me
reason to believe that there Is any special
opposition to the public school system among
the people. According 70 the Statistical re.
port of the county superintendent for the last
school year, fifteen districts heid school ten
months and sixty-fiye per cent. of the dis
tricts supported school six or more mon tbs
while the average for the county was six
and oua no ,..O...i-- 10 si.- toni ,,s 70
~
leaves but thirteen counties that show lar
ger average for the year. AS to the teachers
forty-fiye per cent. are males, which IL
eighteen per cent. above the state average
The wages OF males average S44 per month
and Of females $50, which is s. per month
above the state average for both males and
females.
These facts seem, to prove that these PEG
pie are supporting schools which In length
and expense at least, compare very favora
bly, with those Of other counties
Now as to the quality of the instruction.
Mr.. Rocheleau reports the following visit
'Richmond registers l07 pupils and aver
ages ninety-five. These are crowded into 6
school room Of ordinary size. and are all un
der one male teacher. Their average i.
from five to fourteen years. Yet, In spite o
these difficulties this was by far the bes
school visited, and understand from the
county superintendent 1t is by far the bes
In the German district. Here is illustrated
the old proverb. "As is the teacher so is tn,
school," The work in language and mum
bers is above the average. The pupill
speak English well and read intelligently
The teacher was educated for the publ,
schools of Germany, in which he taught five
years, and he told me that in this time he
has not had a Protestant child In his school,
The general characteristics OF the othel
schools visited was lack of organization
and system, no program of work having beer
found In any school visited, and In many ar
ignorance OF the ordinary appliances ant
methods that we are accustomed to see il
American schools. In some schools tn,
German language has q prominence not al
lowed by law. and not in the interest of tn,
children If they are TO become intelligen
American citizens. German readers, and IL
some cases German arithmetics, have beer
In use. The hour allowed by law for in
struction In q foreign language should b.
confined to that purpose, and all instruction
In subjects for Information and discipline
should be In the English language. MI
Rocheleau reports that the county superin
tendent has ordered the immediate exclu
siou OF German arithmetics. As to the us
OF school houses for religious instruction, MI
Eocheleau reports that he neither saw no
heard anything to confirm that report, bu
that IL was In all cases denied.
And now, having had a residence of som
years in Stearns county. snd personal &C
quaintance with many ofthe teachers an
schools Of that county. 1 feel warranted Il
the conclusion that the local controversy o
Melrose. which involved per sonal, nations
aud religious elements, has led to som
wrong Judgments concerning the condltio
ofthings in the county.
Doubtless the facts of foreign people wit
foreign language, very many of whom al
flliterate In their own tongue, and of reIi,
ious faith whose clergy strongly favor d
rochlal schools. tell heavily against the pul
lie school system In that county. Asar
suit the schools are neglected. the qualifyi
cations of teachers are made of seconda1
importance, and the Improvement Of chi
dren is very unsatisfactory: But there is !
disloyai feeling or antipathy toward ii
schools prevalent The people are growth
more interested and many are DESTROYS